Over the past couple of weeks, someone has purchased products from a number of local companies over the phone using a credit card. The items were picked up by a delivery company and sent to another location.

The businesses didn’t know the credit card information was fraudulently obtained, Halifax Regional Police said. It was only later, when the credit card company contacted the businesses, that the fraud was discovered.

At least two car dealerships targeted by the scheme shipped vehicles to Ontario, police said.

The Halifax Regional Police-RCMP financial crime unit recommends that businesses do not process credit cards over the phone, but physically, by checking the card, verifying the signature on the back against other valid identification and sliding the card into a point of sale terminal for authorization.

Anyone who suspects the use of a fraudulent credit card is asked to call police immediately.